Monday, December 24, 2012

♥ Merry Christmas!! (A Christmas Letter, and a Video of Jordan) ♥

To parents of Young Children, on the subject of Christmas, (and to my friends and family everywhere),

As the mom of many, I've been where you are. It can be frantic in the days leading up to Christmas. Gifts to buy, programs to attend, meals to prepare. I learned a long time ago that I can't do everything, and my family is better off if I don't try! Don't feel guilty about what you don't do. You don't have to bake cookies for your kiddos to decorate. You don't have to go to every Christmas party. You don't have to decorate to the hilt, and keep everything clean in case someone drops by. You don't need to spend money on professional family photos to send to everyone...snapshots show your family as they truly are, blur and all :)


Just enjoy your time together.
Drive around and look at Christmas lights in your pj's, they'll remember that more anyway. Stop for soup or hot chocolate on the way home...you'll have the money for it, because you didn't spend it on a photo session :)




We quit going anywhere on Christmas day, many years ago. My children wanted to play with their new toys, and dragging them somewhere else just didn't seem fair. Also, I don't cook a big Christmas meal. I know we're less formal than many families, but believe me, my children don't go hungry on Christmas day, (although they are most definitely under the influence of a more-than-average sugar rush) and again, there is more time to just relax and enjoy the day. 

This will be the first Christmas I spend without one of my children with me. He and his wife will be spending their first Christmas as a married couple, half a world away, establishing their own traditions for another generation. It happened in a flash. It really did. It was just yesterday that he was a little boy, joyfully tearing open his gifts. 

As I reflect on this, I believe that the memories we will all cherish won't be the gifts, the programs, the parties, or the food, but the time spent together, enjoying each other, arguing with each other (there were 6 kids in our house, so there was/is always an argument or two going on)...and in our family, it was almost always a new movie to watch. Nothing special in itself, but Oh So Special in the time spent together. 
Don't sweat the small stuff young parents, just enjoy the moments :) 


To Randy and Sarah, we will miss you dearly, but are so happy for the Christmas traditions you will be forever establishing for your family, and so thankful that Christ is the center of your celebrations! We love you both so much and are so proud of you!!

Btw, I'm now married to a very handsome "senior" citizen!! 
Senior meals, here we come!!


And for those of you who are still reading, waiting to hear about my nephew Jordan, 
I have something special to share with you! 
Watch this short video and get to know a little bit 
about Jordan and Jenn, their sacrifice, and the blessing of a new home; a gift from
Homes For Our Troops!! Feel free to share it, and spread the news
about this wonderful organization!


Merry Christmas to everyone! 
(Btw, this will serve as my Christmas card...because I didn't get any out this year) 
Lol :)
Blessings,
Marcia 

23 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family. Yes, all true every bit of it. As we prepare for our third wedding in 2013 It does go by too, too fast.
    Lovely video too.
    I don't cook a big dinner on Christmas and we never go anywhere either.
    Great minds and all of that.
    Hugs to you from me.

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  2. Merry merry Xmas darling.....love from me ...enjoy these days.....thanks for your friendship.....love you ...Ria...xxx...

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  3. Have a wonderful day spent in a fun family gathering - it's the best!
    Randy and his wife look so happy together!
    Blessings
    Christine

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  4. May your life be colorful, magnificent,shimmering and joyful, as the magic of Christmas spreads on you.
    Merry Christmas.

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  5. Hi Marcia! Merry Christmas! It's been a quiet one here. I don't do for the sake of doing anymore. I also didn't decorate because I have much cleaning and organizing to do and didn't want to add to the mess. Spending time with family is what it's all about, not the food or the stuff. I'm glad to hear there is a program like this, that Jordan is doing well and now has a home that he can get around in. Blessings to you and yours, Tammy

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  6. Hi there Marcia and Merry Christmas! I am happy to hear from you and SO happy to see that Jordan is doing so well:) That video warmed my heart and made me cry with happy tears for him! BIG hugs to you and continued prayers for Jordan's future! I know that God has big plans for him!

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  7. We are relaxed about all that stuff too!

    We try to get a photo with my daughter's camera every year - it mostly works! LOL!

    We decorate for what pleases us, eat as we feel like it on Christmas Day, just enjoy being together!


    So wonderful to see how Jordan is doing and how they have been blessed with this great home!

    Deanna

    ps - I've missed you!

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  8. Good to see a post from you, Marcia.,I've been a little sparse in the blogging world myself. Life is busy, isn 't it? Here's wishing you a wonderful new year in 2013!

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  9. I loved everything you said. The realness of it all and the take it easy and enjoy your family! Great advice.

    I watched the video of Jordan. What a huge blessing. I'm so happy they have a new home to live in and be comfortable in.

    Thank you for sharing!

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    ~Cinnamon

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  10. Oh Marcia!
    EEEKKKK...I've missed you! I've been checking but believe me I know how you feel.....TIME goes so fast and families are soooooooo busy! I think you have it all just right! We had such a fun-stay-at-home Christmas! Loved it! Enjoyed my Grandma moments so much! It's the best!
    I'll be back soon to check up again....
    Know you are missing your son and new daughter in law....
    Hard when traditions change!
    Big hug,
    Tanya

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  11. Marcia,
    You are so right about enjoying the moments with your family...that is most important. I hope you and your family enjoyed a lovely Christmas together. Thank you for sharing the video about Jordan and his family. Homes for our Troops sounds like a wonderful organization. God bless!

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  12. For Jordan and Jennifer: I am just overjoyed for you that you are being blessed with a home fit for your family! What a gift, what a real blessing from Jesus! Praise God!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!! xxoo

    Marcia, thank you so much for leaving me a comment. I have just not been around in blog land much these days .. just so busy with work and all..trying to make ends meet. I so loved the video! And God bless you and your beautiful family, near and far.

    Happy New Year, too, sweet girl!

    xxoo
    Becky

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  13. What a great bunch of family photos, also Jordan's video was amazing. Merry Christmas from DownUnder!

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  14. Wishing you and your family a joyous and healthy new Year.

    Thanks for posting the video and I'm so glad that Jordan and his lovely wife and family are getting a new home where it will be easier for him to manoeuvre around.

    Have a blessed year.
    JB

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  15. Hi Marcia!
    So nice to hear from you! Looks like you and your family are having a great Christmas season! Love all your family photos!
    Blessings,
    Janet

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  16. Your joy and wonderful wisdom just overflows in this post..thanks for sharing!!!
    Happy New Year...I leave my reading here inspired and smiling!!

    Great family...God is good and faithful...and yes we too are headed for the Senior meals!! LOL

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  17. Amen to spending time with your kids before it's too late! I didn't believe it when they were all at home but now I KNOW how fast it goes! Jordan is looking great. Loved the awesome video! Such a blessing. Mimi

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  18. Thank you for posting this video. Brought me to tears. God Bless you and your family. I am so glad they are getting a wonderful home.

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  19. Great advice in your letter, Marcia. I loved seeing pictures of and hearing about your families Christmas.We stayed home with our kids on Christmas too, and no big dinner. We ate goodies and leftovers, played games with the kids and stayed in our jammies all day. I was without one of my own and his family for the first time in 43yrs. It was hard, but got through it. I don't have sound right now on my desktop, but will watch the video of Jordan when I can steal away hubby's laptop.
    Wishing you and your family all the blessings the New Year can bring.

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  20. Marcia, it's New Year's Day and I just now got the chance to read your blog & watch the video. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome attitude about Christmas - I love it! Christmas was quite a bit more laid back this year in our home too. It was a blessing to see Jordan and his wife. What a wonderful program Homes for Troops is and it warms my heart to know there's something like it out there. Thanks again. Some times life gets in the way for our blogging and sharing but I wanted you to know that I've missed you! Happy 2013 to you & your sweet family.

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  21. Hi, Marcia!
    So nice to read your post!! I completely agree. I think families put way too much pressure on themselves this time of year.
    I enjoyed the pictures!! Looks like everyone was having a great time!
    Thank you so much for sharing the video about Jordan. I was thinking about them just the other day! How awesome that his family got a new home!! What an incredible blessing!
    I pray you and your family will have a wonderful year!♥

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  22. I loved this and totally agree. I gave up cooking anything Christmas morning as we would be hosting others later so we send a couple of kids through the drive thru at McDs for some easy breakfast. I know some would think terrible but it is our tradition now for four years.

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  23. I'm right there with you on simplifying Christmas and work at it more every year. I think we almost have it down! Luckily, my oldest daughter who has 6 kids, watched us pair down and keep the real meaning in Christmas as we taught our kids. She practices what she's learned and her family benefits so much from it. Great post, and the video of Jordan and Jennifer brought tears to my eyes. Do they get to have one of those houses? It looks like they really need one but I couldn't get from the video if they are still in their old house or got the new one. I hope the latter!

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Thanks so much for stopping by :)
Blessings,
Marcia